Take-out food container closure tool

ABSTRACT

A take-out food container closure tool including a roller portion comprised of an interior conical member having a narrow inner end and a wide outer end. The roller portion includes an outer wheel portion secured to the wide outer end of the interior conical member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a take-out food container closure tool and more particularly pertains to allowing a take-out food container to be easily closed.

[0002] Typical take-out food containers are comprised of an aluminum base and a cardboard top. The aluminum base has an open top to allow food to be placed therein. The open top is provided with a peripheral edge having a pliable peripheral lip extending upwardly therefrom. In use, the cardboard top is placed over the open top, resting atop the peripheral edge. The pliable peripheral lip is then pressed downwardly to whereby the cardboard edge is positioned between the peripheral edge and the down turned peripheral lip. Unfortunately, this process tends to be harmful on the fingers after repeating this process numerous times. What is needed is a tool that can perform this task preventing injury to the fingers.

[0003] The present invention attempts to solve the abovementioned problem by providing a tool that can effectively downturn a peripheral lip of a take-out container to engage it's cardboard top.

[0004] The use of container closure devices is known in the prior art. More specifically, container closure devices heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of closing containers are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

[0005] By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,719 to Allen discloses a foil closure lid for a container with a series of projecting tabs. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,211,338 to Bublitz and 4,363,404 to Westphal disclose additional container closure devices.

[0006] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objective and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a take-out food container closure tool for allowing a take-out food container to be easily closed.

[0007] In this respect, the take-out food container closure tool according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed to allow a take-out food container to be easily closed.

[0008] Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved take-out food container closure tool that can be used for allowing a take-out food container to be easily closed. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In the view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of container closure devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved take-out food container closure tool. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved take-out food container closure tool that has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

[0010] To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a roller portion comprising an interior conical member having a narrow inner end and a wide outer end. The roller portion includes an outer wheel portion secured to the wide outer end of the interior conical member. A holder portion is dimensioned for receiving the roller portion therein. The holder portion has a closed outer end and an open inner end. The open inner end receives the interior conical member of the roller portion therein whereby the outer wheel portion is disposed outside the holder portion. The holder portion has a tab extending outwardly thereof.

[0011] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention so the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and so the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

[0012] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

[0013] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0014] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved take-out food container closure tool that has all the advantages of the prior art container closure devices and none of the disadvantages.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved take-out food container closure tool that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved take-out food container closure tool that is of durable and reliable construction.

[0017] An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved take-out food container closure tool that is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a take-out food container closure tool economically available to the buying public.

[0018] Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved take-out food container closure tool for allowing a take-out food container to be easily closed.

[0019] Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved take-out food container closure tool including a roller portion comprising an interior conical member having a narrow inner end and a wide outer end. The roller portion includes an outer wheel portion secured to the wide outer end of the interior conical member.

[0020] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

[0022]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the take-out food container closure tool constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention in a fully assembled orientation.

[0024]FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention illustrated in use.

[0025] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts through the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular, to figures one through three thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved take-out food container closure tool embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

[0027] Specifically, it will be noted in the various figures that the device relates to a take-out food container closure tool for allowing a take-out food container to be easily closed. In its broadest context, the device consists of a roller portion and a holder portion. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.

[0028] The roller portion 12 comprises an interior conical member 14 having a narrow inner end 16 and a wide outer end 18. The roller portion 12 includes an outer wheel portion 20 secured to the wide outer end 18 of the interior conical member 14.

[0029] The holder portion 22 is dimensioned for receiving the roller portion 12 therein. The holder portion 22 has a closed outer end 24 and an open inner end 26. The open inner end 26 receives the interior conical member 14 of the roller portion 12 therein whereby the outer wheel portion 20 is disposed outside of the holder portion 22. The holder portion 22 has a tab 28 extending outwardly thereof.

[0030] The present invention is designed for use on take-out food containers 30. The take-out food container 30 includes a lower container portion 32 having an open upper end 34. The open upper end 34 has a peripheral edge 36. The peripheral edge 36 has an upwardly extending pliable peripheral lip 38. The take-out food container 30 includes a planar lid 40 positionable over the open upper end 34 of the lower container portion 32. In use, the present invention is positioned with the roller portion 12 disposed within the holder portion 22 whereby the outer wheel portion 20 is pressed downwardly against the peripheral lip 38 and rotated around the lower container portion 32 so that the peripheral lip 38 is pressed down against the planar lid 40. Thus, the planar lid 40 will be held in place between the downwardly turned peripheral lip 38 and the peripheral edge 36 of the open upper end 34 of the lower container portion 32.

[0031] As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

[0032] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

[0033] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:
 1. A take-out food container closure tool for allowing a take-out food container to be easily closed, wherein the take-out food container includes a lower container portion having an open upper end, the open upper end having a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge having an upwardly extending pliable peripheral lip, the take-out food container including a planar lid positionable over the open upper end of the lower container portion, the closure tool comprising, in combination: a roller portion comprised of an interior conical member having a narrow inner end and a wide outer end, the roller portion including an outer wheel portion secured to the wide outer end of the interior conical member; and a holder portion dimensioned for receiving the roller portion therein, the holder portion having a closed outer end and an open inner end, the open inner end receiving the interior conical member of the roller portion therein whereby the outer wheel portion is disposed outside of the holder portion, the holder portion having a tab extending outwardly thereof.
 2. A take-out food container closure tool for allowing a take-out food container to be easily closed, wherein the take-out food container includes a lower container portion having an open upper end, the open upper end having a peripheral edge, the peripheral edge having an upwardly extending pliable peripheral lip, the take-out food container including a planar lid positionable over the open upper end of the lower container portion, the closure tool comprising, in combination: a roller portion comprised of an interior conical member having a narrow inner end and a wide outer end, the roller portion including an outer wheel portion secured to the wide outer end of the interior conical member.
 3. The take-out food container closure tool as set forth in claim 2, and further including a holder portion dimensioned for receiving the roller portion therein.
 4. The take-out food container closure tool as set forth in claim 3, wherein the holder portion has a closed outer end and an open inner end, the open inner end receiving the interior conical member of the roller portion therein whereby the outer wheel portion is disposed outside of the holder portion. 